Slow Food NYC - Bronxhttp://www.slowfoodnyc.org/blog_categories/bronx
enEating Our Way Through Choice Eats 2014http://www.slowfoodnyc.org/blog/slow_food_nyc/2014/03/31/eating_our_way_through_choice_eats_2014
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<span class="field-item even"><img typeof="foaf:Image" src="http://www.slowfoodnyc.org/sites/slowfoodnyc.org/files/styles/large/public/choice%20eats%20-%20coppelia%20arepa.JPG?itok=ob6kI3_G" width="342" height="257" alt="" /></span>
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<span class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"> <p><strong>By Sherry Chen</strong></p><p>On March 25, 2014, <em>The Village Voice</em> hosted its <strong>Choice Eats</strong> tasting event and opened the doors of Basketball City @ Pier 36 to ravenous gluttons everywhere. The huge event space was converted into a Noah's Ark of food, housing every kind of cuisine imaginable, and a deluge of hungry people flooded the venue from all corners of the city.</p><p>You would be hard-pressed to find a food event with more choice and variety than this one. With so many options conveniently under one roof, Choice Eats certainly encourages adventurous risk-taking from its guests. Perhaps on a normal night out you wouldn't order a rabbit taco by choice, but here you really have nothing to lose in taking that chance. If you like it, great, and if not, you can quickly move on to something else.</p><p>The most challenging thing for me was the goat and tripe soup from <strong>Buka</strong>, a Nigerian restaurant based in Brooklyn. A lot of restaurants try to soften the blow of eating offal by mincing it up finely or heavily seasoning it to mask the intense flavors. The pieces of tripe in this soup were pretty big, intimidating and unattractive. Luckily, the dish tasted a lot better than it looked. The broth, which was flavored with habanero peppers, had a great peppery kick to it, and a lot of great flavors were extracted from the goat meat.</p><p><img class="image-medium" src="/sites/slowfoodnyc.org/files/styles/medium/public/choice%20eats%20-%20buka%20goat%20soup%202.JPG?itok=QxNukOiK" alt="" width="343" height="257" /></p><p>Other dishes that kept me on my toes included the bright Hmong-style smoked catfish from <strong>Yunnan Kitchen</strong> in the LES, which almost felt like it had been marinaded in herbs laced with ammonia, and the larb from <strong>Larb Ubol</strong>, a Hell's Kitchen restaurant specializing in Northeastern Thai cuisine, in which the minced meat salad was definitely an acquired taste.</p><p><img class="image-medium" src="/sites/slowfoodnyc.org/files/styles/medium/public/choice%20eats%20-%20yunnan%20kitchen%20catfish%203.JPG?itok=9n6_9Drt" alt="" width="343" height="257" /></p><p><img class="image-medium" src="/sites/slowfoodnyc.org/files/styles/medium/public/choice%20eats%20-%20larb%20ubol%202.JPG?itok=vNXJikIT" alt="" width="343" height="257" /></p><p>The Siberian dumplings from <strong>Bear</strong>, a restaurant in Long Island City, drew me in with its intense-sounding name but, really, the Russian dumplings had a lot in common with its omnipresent, thick-skinned neighbors from China. I wasn't sure what to expect from the visually arresting Georgian food from <strong>Oda House</strong>, and the extremely green prasis pkhali balls of boiled leeks and walnuts made me skeptical, but they were surprisingly good and refined in flavor.</p><p><img class="image-medium" src="/sites/slowfoodnyc.org/files/styles/medium/public/choice%20eats%20-%20bear%20siberian%20dumpling%202.JPG?itok=Ub-UUmEl" alt="" width="343" height="257" /></p><p><img class="image-medium" src="/sites/slowfoodnyc.org/files/styles/medium/public/choice%20eats%20-%20oda%20house.JPG?itok=QFjL_g77" alt="" width="343" height="257" /></p><p>The best thing about taking your palate on an adventure is the journey back home. After frontloading the more novel tastings I reverted back to the crowd-pleasers and, not surprisingly, these were my favorite food samples at Choice Eats. Here's a quick recap of the restaurants that ranked near the top:</p><p>Best in Show goes to the black sesame ramen noodles from <strong>Tabata Noodle</strong> in Hell's Kitchen. The extremely dense and savory broth, more gravy than soup, was a master class in umami flavor maximization, and the tasty, minced pork was a delightful and decadent accent to the dish.</p><p><img class="image-medium" src="/sites/slowfoodnyc.org/files/styles/medium/public/choice%20eats%20-%20tabata%20noodle%20closeup.JPG?itok=H9TzZmQ0" alt="" width="343" height="257" /></p><p>Other favorites included the delicious braciole tortelli from Manhattan-based <strong>Rubirosa</strong>, a mouth-watering nugget filled with rich meat covered in a creamy veneer of salty melted cheese; the sweet and tender braised short ribs from <strong>El Almacen</strong> in Brooklyn, which certainly had me swooning at first bite; and the pastrami and vinegar coleslaw from <strong>John Brown Smokehouse</strong> which had a similar effect.</p><p><img class="image-medium" src="/sites/slowfoodnyc.org/files/styles/medium/public/choice%20eats%20-%20rubirosa%20braciole%20tortellini%202.JPG?itok=B0UFQBUP" alt="" width="343" height="257" /></p><p><img class="image-medium" src="/sites/slowfoodnyc.org/files/styles/medium/public/choice%20eats%20-%20el%20almacen.jpg?itok=8kWB2XS6" alt="" width="343" height="257" /></p><p><img class="image-medium" src="/sites/slowfoodnyc.org/files/styles/medium/public/choice%20eats%20-%20john%20brown%20smokehouse%20pastrami.JPG?itok=l5WrSPVQ" alt="" width="343" height="257" /></p><p>The ratio of savory to sweet items is a bit skewed at this event so you have to be strategic and leave some room in your stomach for desserts. Otherwise you miss out on the amazingly moist and mind-blowingly good red velvet cake from <strong>Carlo's Bakery</strong> in Hoboken, or the unassuming but delicately creamy and tender napoleon from <strong>Cafe Glechik</strong>. The cedar creamsicle from Brooklyn ice cream parlor <strong>Oddfellows</strong> wins in my book for being a thinking man's dessert; using actual cedar wood to flavor the cream added interesting complexity to a familiar treat.</p><p><img class="image-medium" src="/sites/slowfoodnyc.org/files/styles/medium/public/choice%20eats%20-%20carlo%27s%20bakery%20red%20velvet%20and%20cannoli.JPG?itok=4ixXy7Ye" alt="" width="343" height="257" /></p><p><img class="image-medium" src="/sites/slowfoodnyc.org/files/styles/medium/public/choice%20eats%20-%20cafe%20glechik%20napoleon.JPG?itok=9eujnkRt" alt="" width="343" height="257" /></p><p><img class="image-medium" src="/sites/slowfoodnyc.org/files/styles/medium/public/choice%20eats%20-%20oddfellows%20creamsicle.JPG?itok=EiQzA_G-" alt="" width="343" height="257" /></p><p>As you can imagine, with so many restaurants to choose from, it's an extremely difficult feat to be able to try everything. Plus the long lines that formed later in the evening made that goal even more challenging — my efforts to get a crab roll from <strong>Luke's Lobster</strong> were unsuccessful. But for food this good, it was definitely worth the wait. Like Noah's flood, with every storm, there is a rainbow, and for me, that came in the form of a very rewarding food coma.</p><p> </p><p><strong>For more background info about this year's Choice Eats event, check out </strong><a href="http://slowfoodnyc.org/blog/slow_food_nyc/2014/03/24/qa_rosemary_jorda_event_director_choice_eats" target="_self">Q+A with Rosemary Jorda, Event Director for Choice Eats</a>.</p><p><br /><em><strong>Sherry Chen</strong> is a New York City-based food writer with a passion for delicious, locally-sourced meals. You can read about her food adventures at <a href="http://www.gabandgobble.com" target="_blank">www.gabandgobble.com</a>.</em></p> </span>
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<span class="field-item even"><a href="/blog_categories/bronx" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Bronx</a></span>
<span class="field-item odd"><a href="/blog_categories/brooklyn" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Brooklyn</a></span>
<span class="field-item even"><a href="/blog_categories/manhattan" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Manhattan</a></span>
<span class="field-item odd"><a href="/blog_categories/queens" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Queens</a></span>
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<span class="field-item odd"><a href="/blog_categories/staten_island" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Staten Island</a></span>
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Mon, 31 Mar 2014 20:25:55 +0000Slow Food NYC945 at http://www.slowfoodnyc.orgQ+A with Rosemary Jorda, Event Director for Choice Eatshttp://www.slowfoodnyc.org/blog/slow_food_nyc/2014/03/24/qa_rosemary_jorda_event_director_choice_eats
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<span class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"> <p><strong>by Sherry Chen</strong></p><p>The upcoming Choice Eats tasting extravaganza needs no introduction. This bacchanalia of food and drink is eagerly anticipated by city chowhounds for the impressive quality and breadth of food samples that will be served. The event, which is in its seventh year, has finalized the lineup of 84 participating restaurants that will all convene at Basketball City at Pier 36 from 7:00PM-10:00PM on March 25, 2014.</p><p>The handpicked restaurants are all based in New York, with representation from each of the five boroughs. Celebrating these local restaurants and food traditions certainly embraces the spirit of conviviality, one of the key defining principles of the original Slow Food movement, in which we should take pleasure in cooking, eating and sharing meals with others.</p><p>It’s all the more fitting that Slow Food NYC will be the charitable partner of Choice Eats for a fourth year in a row. A portion of the event proceeds will go towards funding Urban Harvest, a Slow Food NYC program that teaches New York City children about the effects of good food on their health and well-being, as well as on their surrounding communities. The program adopts a hands-on approach to introducing urban children to a good food system, which include planting and tending edible gardens, receiving cooking classes and operating farm stands. </p><p> <img class="image-medium" src="/sites/slowfoodnyc.org/files/styles/medium/public/Slow%20Food%20NYC%20Ujima%20Garden%20Farm.jpg?itok=EG0NN3E_" alt="" width="343" height="257" /></p><p>It's clear that coordinating a food event of this magnitude is no easy task. To learn more about what's involved in planning Choice Eats, we asked Rosemary Jorda, the Marketing and Events Director at the <em>Village Voice</em>, a few questions about the event.</p><p><strong>How did you first get involved with the Choice Eats tasting event? What are your current responsibilities?</strong></p><p>Choice Eats is entering its seventh year as one of New York City's largest and premiere food tasting events. Personally for me, this will be my fifth year serving as Choice Eats' Event Director. In addition to working closely with our food critics to help select and secure over 80+ diverse restaurants this year, my job is also to make sure the show goes off without a hitch! From building out the entire event, to working on the venue layout, ticketing and running the day of show, my days are filled with Choice Eats goodness!</p><p><strong>New York City is home to so many great restaurants – how did you narrow down the Choice Eats restaurant list to 84?</strong></p><p>Choice Eats is a great representation of the best of the best food New York City has to offer! Our food critics scour the culinary landscape in search of the best bites from all the NYC boroughs. They work hard to make the food journey at Choice Eats a good mix of cuisines, nations and dishes to excite our event goers' palates. From a mix of returning Choice Eats restaurants like The Meatball Shop and Dirt Candy to new additions to the line up like Jacob's Pickles and Bunker, there is something new for everyone to try. To see a full line up and a sneak peek at the event map, visit <a href="http://www.villagevoice.com/choiceeats" target="_blank">www.villagevoice.com/choiceeats</a>.</p><p><strong>The VIP tickets for Choice Eats sold out quickly – what makes this event such a big draw in a city with so many options?</strong></p><p>Our Choice Eats VIP ticket is a popular one as it allows a limited number of guests the chance to hit the Choice Eats event floor one hour early for a pre-tasting from our restaurants. Event goers love Choice Eats because it would take them weeks to hit the number of restaurants in all the boroughs across NYC that Choice Eats delivers under the one roof for one night!</p><p><strong>Tell us about the history behind the Slow Food NYC partnership. Why did Choice Eats choose Slow Food NYC as its charitable partner?</strong></p><p>Choice Eats has been working with Slow Food NYC since 2009. Since the mission of Choice Eats is to bring as many local elements together that New York has to offer as possible so Slow Food is the ideal charitable partner. The organization focuses on providing the local community with food education in our local schools, local edible gardens &amp; cooking clubs, community gardening, support for local farmers and more. <em>The Village Voice</em> wants to help Slow Food bring these programs and more to all New Yorkers.</p><p><strong>What do you think makes this year's Choice Eats event different from the prior ones? What type of experience do you hope guests will come away with?</strong></p><p>With over 80 participants, this is our largest Choice Eats to date! This year will bring together more tasty bites from more restaurants at a new larger venue, Pier 36 at Basketball City. We will also be featuring great craft beer, wines and spirits plus our first event Food Talks Demo Area and many more surprises!</p><p>To learn more about Choice Eats and to buy tickets, visit their website <a href="http://choiceeats.villagevoice.com/2014" target="_blank">choiceeats.villagevoice.com/2014</a>. Please check back soon for a delicious recap of the event!</p><p> </p><p><strong>For more info on this year's Choice Eats event, check out</strong> <a href="http://slowfoodnyc.org/blog/slow_food_nyc/2014/03/31/eating_our_way_through_choice_eats_2014" target="_self">Eating Our Way Through Choice Eats 2014</a>.</p><p> </p><p><em><strong>Sherry Chen</strong> is a New York City-based food writer with a passion for delicious, locally-sourced meals. You can read about her food adventures at <a href="http://www.gabandgobble.com" target="_blank">www.gabandgobble.com</a>.</em></p><p><em>Choice Eats Photo by <strong>Daniel Krieger</strong>.<br /></em></p><p> </p> </span>
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Tue, 25 Mar 2014 02:17:36 +0000Slow Food NYC943 at http://www.slowfoodnyc.orgVolunteer Opportunity - Build a Greenhouse in the Bronxhttp://www.slowfoodnyc.org/blog/sunil_kumar/2011/10/17/volunteer_opportunity_build_greenhouse_bronx
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<span class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"> <p>Help a school in the South Bronx build a greenhouse.</p><p>The Bronx Academy of Letters, a school in the Slow Food NYC Urban Harvest program, has purchased a greenhouse and is looking for a few volunteers to help assemble it. If you are good with your hands; have similar experience; or just want to help out, please contact Anthony Galardi at <a href="mailto:anthony.galardi@gmail.com" target="_blank">anthony.galardi@gmail.com</a>.</p> </span>
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<span class="field-item even"><a href="/blog_categories/volunteering" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Volunteering</a></span>
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Tue, 18 Oct 2011 03:53:46 +0000Sunil Kumar487 at http://www.slowfoodnyc.orgBronx Academy of Letters in the Newshttp://www.slowfoodnyc.org/blog/sunil_kumar/2011/09/19/bronx_academy_letters_news
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<span class="field-item even"><img typeof="foaf:Image" src="http://www.slowfoodnyc.org/sites/slowfoodnyc.org/files/styles/large/public/bx_letters.jpg?itok=mMf2MRwv" width="342" height="255" alt="" /></span>
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<span class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"> <p> </p><p>The Bronx Academy of Letters is one of Slow Food NYC's Urban Harvest in Schools locations. They have made great progress in the past year and we are proud of their achievments. Read more about them at these links.</p><p><a href="http://ravensgarden.tumblr.com/" target="_blank">ravensgarden.tumblr.com</a></p><p><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/09/02/bronx-academy-of-letters-garden-_n_946919.html" target="_blank">http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/09/02/bronx-academy-of-letters-garden-_n_946919.html</a></p><p><a href="http://www.growtolearn.org/view/GardenoftheMonth" target="_blank">http://www.growtolearn.org/view/GardenoftheMonth</a></p><p> </p> </span>
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Mon, 19 Sep 2011 17:06:31 +0000Sunil Kumar471 at http://www.slowfoodnyc.org